Sweet home Chicago: Cameron Bairstow has been drafted by the Bulls with the 49th pick. Photo: Getty Images

So eager was the franchise to snag the 23-year-old big man, they reportedly considered trading him up.

"He's a guy that we're real excited to get," said Bulls general manager Gar Forman. "He fits our culture. He's a strong, physical player who's got a good skill level. He can shoot the mid-range shot. He's got experience and has played in international competitions."

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Like Australian great and three-time NBA champion for the Bulls Luc Longley, Bairstow plied his trade at the University of New Mexico. He stamped his mark as a senior last season, using his powerful 206cm, 113kg body to average 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game.

"Shows you what hard work and dedication can do for a player," UNM head coach Craig Neal told the Albuquerque Journal via text message.

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"It is the ultimate experience to get drafted in the NBA. The Bulls got a class person, a great player, a credit to our program."

#Bulls select Cameron Bairstow, a power forward from New Mexico, with the 49th pick. #NBADraft

In a profile of Bairstow on NBA.com before the draft, Neal said he used to tease his charge for being a "scrawny kid".

"And now he's a man," he said. "He just does everything to get better. If I told him to go get better by eating dog food, he would eat dog food."

Former Australian NBA star Shane Heal revealed via Twitter that he'd flown Bairstow to Sydney 12 months ago and offered him a "big contract" to play with the NBL's Sydney Kings - whom he coached at the time.

Heal wrote: "Good decision to stay in school #nba ... Great to see you rewarded for all of your hard work. Great story and I'm sure your family are all so proud.good luck."